Clutch mechanism for oscillating fans



Aug. 1, 1950 a. w. PRESTON 2,517,415

CLUTCH MECHANISM FOR oscnmwmc FANS Filed Nov. 12, 1948 3 INVENTOR.

CcdZQ/alffird pizsz vzz Patented Aug. 1, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE p Cecil Wilford Preston, Glen Ellyn, 111., assigncr to Wittie Mfg. -Co., Inc., Chicago, Ill.

Application November 12, 1948, Serial No. 59,658

8 Claims. (01. 192-56 My invention relates to clutch mechanisms for drive gearings, and more particularly in relation to oscillating electric fans. Sinceclutch controls in some makes of oscillating fans are involved or hard of access, it is one object of the present invention to provide a control in the form of a simple knob readily accessible over the motor housing of the fan. Y A further object is to provide a clutch to engage or disengage the Oscillating drive which is actuated by a short vertical movement of the control knob mentioned above.

Another object is to join the clutch components along a spiral camming path which promotes the automatic disengagement of the clutch in case the oscillating mechanism meets resistance, whereby to save the overloading of the motor and injury to its windings.

A'still further object is to interpose a boosting element in the clutch assembly whichinsures the automatic disengagement of the clutch the moment its components receive a separating or looseningimpulse or tendency.

An important object is to combine the novel clutch and the motor drive for the same in a neat and compact assembly.

With the above objects in view, and any others which may suggest themselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a side view of a typical electric fan equipped with the novel clutch mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a section in the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are, respectively, sections on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the clutch components. M

In accordance with the foregoing, specific reference to the drawing indicates the electric fan at Ill, and its motor housing at I I. The motor is shown at I 2; and its shaft l3 extends intoa frame 14 forming an internal part of the motor housing.

A conventional oscillating mechanism includes a vertical shaft driven at slow speed by a gearing from the motor, the shaft carrying an external crank whose motion relative to a pivoted link induces the oscillatory movement of the motor housing. The vertical shaft referred to is also employed in the present mechanism and shown at 20. It turns in a bushing 2| lodged in the bottom of the motor housing and depends from the latter to receive the crank 22. The crank is made fast by receiving a screw 23 which is driven into a tapped shaft bore 24.

The drive from the motor shaft G3 to the vertical shaft 20 starts with a worm 3;) made on the free end of the motor shaft. The worm 30 engages a gear 3| carried by a cross-shaft 32 journaled in the frame I 4, the cross-shaft also carrying a worm 33. A gear 34 is rotatably mounted on the vertical shaft 20, such gear being in mesh with the worm 33. A double speed reduction drive is thus transmitted from the motor shaft to the gear 34.

Connected as described, the gear 34 is in constarit rotation when the electric fan is in operation; and being free on the vertical shaft 20, the gear transmits no motion to the same, so that no oscillatory movement is imparted to the motor housing. It is therefore the province of the novel clutch mechanism to engage the gear 3-4 with the shaft 20 at such time as the oscillatory movement is desired. l l To form the clutch, the gear 34 is extended upwardly with a hub 40 which constitutes the driving component of the clutch. The driven component is a clip 4| carried by a sleeve 42 which is slidable vertically along the shaft Zll. The latteris made with a deep axial bore 43 from its upper end; and the upper portion of the shaft is divided to form slot sections M through which passes a cross-pin 45 lodged endwise in the walls of the sleevellZ; The latter is thus locked against turning relative to the shaft 20.

The upper part of the shaft bore 43 slidably receives a stem 48 whose upper end carries a finger knob 49. The cross-pin 45 also passes through the stem 48, forming a connection between the stem and the sleeve 42, and enabling the knob to be used as a control to lower the sleeve from-and return it to -the position. shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The clip 4| is circular in form and extended downwardly with a pair of diametrically spaced prongs 51). These are designed to receive the gear hub 40 between them when the clip is lowered upon the same. The proper design of the teeth 5| of the gear 34 is with a lateral twist or inclination, as indicated at 52; and the teeth are continued with the same inclination, but merely as ribs '53, across the periphery of the hub 40. The prongs are designed to mount a number of the ribs 53 with sliding engagement as the clip 4| is lowered on the hub 40. The prongs 50 are pressed with a pair of inward ribs 54 directed similarly to the hub ribs 53 and designed to lodge between pairs of these when the clip is lowered as stated. This action connects the gear 34 rotatably with the clip, engaging the clutch to induce the oscillatory movement of the fan. It follows that the manual raising of the knob 49 will dis-connect the clutch when the oscillator movement of the fan is no longer desired.

The clutch engagement described above forms a sufficient positive drive between the gear 34 and the shaft 20 under normal conditions. However, in case some obstacle or undue friction impedes the rotation of the shaft, an overload would be imposed on the motor l2 and its windings injured. To guard against such an even tuality, the ribs 53 and 5 act to automatically disconnect the clutch when the shaft 20 offers undue resistance to the turning influence of the gear 3t. In such event, the ribs 53 impinge laterally on the ribs 54 as camsas the gearrotates in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. crowd the prongs 58; in separating. directions. This action frees the clip slightly from the hub ribs 53 and also imposes an upward, influence on the clip. by the spiral pressure between the ribs 53 and 54. Now a compression spring 69. in the shaft bore 43 acts as a boosteron the stem 4%, raising the clip 4| clear of the hub 40, so that the clutch is automatically disncas d.

While any suitable method of assembly may be employed for the parts associated with the shaft 20, I have chosen a number of split collars as retaining means for several of the parts. Thus, such a collar 65 is employed as a top limiting retainer for the sleeve 62-; and top and bottom collars 6% and 61 are employed as limits for the Finally, a collar till supports the shaft on the bushing 2|.

In conclusion, it will be apparent that the novel mechanism provides a handy control for securing or stopping the oscillating movement of the fan. The mechanism is entirely contained within the motor housing, where it is protected from dust and impact by other objects. Further, the novel clutch is safeguarded against an overload by simple and automatic means. Further, the clutch is applicable to other appliances and gearings. Finally, the mechanism employs the fewest parts consistent with efiicient construction and operation.

While I have described the invention along specific lines, various minor changes or refinements may be made therein without departing from its principle, and I reserve the right to employ all such changes and refinements as may come within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. A clutch mechanism between apower drive and a driven shaft comprising a member oper: ated by said drive and rotatable on the driven shaft, a clutch unit movable along the shaft toward and from said member, the latter having a 4 series of peripheral projections extending in substantially longitudinal directions, opposed tongues carried by said unit and adapted to frictionally surmount said projections when the unit moves toward the member and inward projections from said tongues assuming positions between pairs of said peripheral projections in such event.

2; The structure of claim 1;, and means to join said unit for rotation with. the shaft.

3. The structure of claim 1, said projections being ribs.

4. The structure of claim 1, said tongues being tensionable and their projections formed as cam ribs influenced by the member projections to spread the. tongues- When the shaft offers undue resistance to the rotary effort of the member, whereby to slightly disengage the tongues from the member projections.

5. The structure of claim 1, said tongues being tensionable and their projections formed as cam ribs influenced by the member plfojectipns to spread the tongues when the shaft ofiers undue resistance to the rotary effort ofthe membei whereby to slightly disengage the tongues tron x; the member projections, and means effective tov retract the clutch unit from the member in such event.

6. The structure of claim 1 said projections being inclined ribs, the tongues being tensionable and their ribs formed: as cams influenced by the member ribs to spread the tongues when the shaft offers undue resistance to the rotary. ester, of said members, whereby to slightly disengage the tongues from the member ribs, and the in;

clination of the ribs imposing an influence to retract the clutch unit from the member.

7. The structure of claim 1, said projections-besimilarly inclined ribs, the tongues being ten: sionable and their ribs formed as, cams influenced by the member ribs to spreadthe tongues when the shaft offers undue resistance to the rotary. effort of said members, whereby to slightly disengage the tongues from the member ribs, the inclination of the ribs imposing an influence to retract the clutch unit from the member.

8. The structure of claim 1 said member have. ing one end portion as a worm gear, the member projections being reduced continuations of the gear teeth, and the tongue projections being ribs inclined as said continuations.

CECIL WILFORD PRESTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED; STATES, PATENTS 

